Dodgers News: Pitching Rotation Still Unclear vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming off a 3-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Sadly, the boys in blue were defeated 6-2 in Wednesdays series finale. With just a few home games left before going on the road, it is crucial that the Dodgers step it up to beat that team from up north out of first place in the National League standings.
The Dodgers will start a 3-game series vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday Aug. 12 at 7:10 PM PST at the Ravine. After this home series, the team will make their way to Philadelphia then to Ohio.
Dodgers Credits: Corey Seager’s X-Ray Results, Rich Hill Scratched from Friday Start and More3 more games at home. 7 games on the road. pic.twitter.com/6Nc2CkPoTi
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) August 12, 2016
Game 1: 7:10 PM PT – RHP Ross Stripling
To kick off the series, Dodgers will have right hand rookie pitcher Ross Stripling on the mound. Stripling has started the last three games for the Dodgers regardless of his innings limit. Stripling is 3-3 with a 3.79 ERA in 13 games in his first major league season. In his most recent start, he threw five shutout innings Saturday against Boston.
The Dodgers will give the ball to Ross Stripling and TBD this weekend, not Rich Hill: https://t.co/Z5h6o9d7WX
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) August 10, 2016
Brandon McCarthy or Julio Urias could start Saturday. Urias or Brett Anderson could start Sunday.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) August 10, 2016
The Dodgers will have @RossStripling on the mound for Fridays series opener vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Ravine pic.twitter.com/z1O55j6AET
— Michelle (@yoMichelle_) August 11, 2016
Now, Saturday and Sundays starting pitchers have yet to be announced. Rich Hill’s pitching debut with the Dodgers continues to be delayed as he is still recovering from a large blister on his left middle finger.
Hill believed he would be ready for the mound for this series vs. the Pirates, however manager Dave Roberts says he will be be cleared from the disabled list and will be given more time to completely recover.
“We don’t have a date on when Rich is going to pitch for us,” Roberts told J.P. Hoornstra, “but we do know that Ross will start on Friday.”
Roberts continued,
“I think that if we weren’t winning baseball games (our frustration with Hill’s situation) might be a little more enhanced,” Roberts said. “Rich is doing everything he can. There’s only so much you can do. It’s the hand he’s dealt and we’re dealing with it.”
The Dodgers acquired Hill before the MLB Trade Deadline from the Oakland Athletics.
A Timeline of Yasiel Puig’s Tumultuous 2016 SeasonHoornstra is also reporting that Brandon McCarthy might get the start this weekend.
Ross Stripling to start Friday. Rich Hill needs more time. Brandon McCarthy will throw a pen tomorrow. If it goes well, he'll start Saturday
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) August 10, 2016
Below are McCarthy’s stats for the 2016 season so far.
Although McCarthy has had his high points, he’s struggled in his last couple of outings.
Julio Urias also seems to be an option for the Dodgers. Urias last start came vs. the Phillies where he had a strong night ending with the following stat line: 5IP, 5 H, 3R (1ER) and 2Ks.
Julio Urías is a candidate to start that game too. Brett Anderson is a possibility for Sunday, but that game is TBA for now. #decisions
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) August 10, 2016
In addition to Urias and Anderson’s possible start for the weekend, Roberts said Brandon McCarthy is a possibility but nothing will be decided until McCarthy throws another bullpen session to see if he is truly ready. Roberts continued,
“Some of it has to do with Mac and how he feels. The other component is what Honey (Rick Honeycutt, the Dodgers’ pitching coach) and I see with this pen as far as pitch execution. So we’ll weigh those factors.”
With so much uncertainty, its easy to get nervous about this sires since the Dodgers are just one game behind the Giants in the NL standings. But let’s take this one game at a time. Let’s win Friday then we can go from there.
Saturday and Sundays games will start at 1:05 PM and 1:10 PM PT respectively, at the Ravine.
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If Anderson is ready I do not see why they do not let him pitch. He is an experienced guy and was rock solid for us until he tired at the end of the year. Urias has not learned command. He wastes too many pitches. His last game the team scored 5 runs and he goes out and walks a batter. you never do that heck groove one if you have to and see if he can hit it out. The odds are its a fly ball but don’t walk people with a 5 run lead. He is either not mentally into it or unable to throw steikes when he needs to.
Yes Urias is very young and yes he has great potential but you have to throw strikes…He is proving he is not ready…
Stripling has learned to throw strikes and pitch to contact. But he is 6 years or more older than Urias. Julio will learn but it is a maturation process…Let him work out of the pen or better in Okie City. Curious what DeLeon can do…
If Anderson can pitch lets get him some innings and see if he can help us….Hopefully McCarthy has gotten his brain rewired and can now throw strikes. Never seen a big league pitcher throw 4 pitches to the back stop in three innings… Yikes